The 2018 season was a rough one all around for the Minnesota Vikings. Kirk Cousins and the offense didn't look anywhere near as good as people were expecting in Cousins' first year under center, and the defense took a step back from their previous elite level.

The Vikings surprisingly missed the playoffs, and they'll need to change several things in 2019. One thing they'll need is more production out of Everson Griffen. Griffen missed five games with a mental health issue that was never fully explained last season and didn't look like himself when he was out there.

In the 11 games he played, Griffen had 5.5 sacks. It was a sharp decline from the 13 sacks in 15 games he had the year before. In response to his down season, the team forced him to take a pay cut this offseason. Griffen's roster spot was reportedly in danger, and he agreed to cut his salary for 2019 from $10.9 million to $6.4 million to stick with the team.

Speaking to reporters earlier Tuesday after the start of the team's offseason program, Griffen admitted it wasn't an easy thing to do.

Griffen said the restructure was a “tough pill to swallow,” per Chris Tomasson of The St. Paul Pioneer Press. The USC product is still only 31, so he should have at least a couple of more good years left in him.

Griffen made the Pro Bowl three straight times from 2015-2017 and was one of the critical pieces of what was consistently one of the league's best defenses. If the Vikings are going to turn things around in 2019, they'll need big things out of Griffen. Perhaps the pay cut could motivate him even more next season to prove his doubters wrong.